Reverse osmosis systems
Reverse osmosis pushes water through a fine membrane to make cleaner drinking water. It pairs well with a softener on hard Kingman-area water.
A reverse osmosis system usually sits under the kitchen sink and feeds its own faucet. Water passes through pre-filters, then a semi-permeable membrane, then often a final carbon filter, and the treated water is stored in a small tank. NSF/ANSI Standard 58 is the certification for residential RO systems.
What can RO remove?
RO reduces many dissolved minerals and salts, which is why it's often used where total dissolved solids are high. For homes on private wells, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says RO is the most common treatment Arizona well owners use for arsenic, and that it can remove up to 95 percent. Extension also advises testing a system's arsenic removal before you rely on it and at least once a year after that.
Why pair it with a softener?
Hardness can foul an RO membrane. Extension notes that RO treatment is more efficient with pre-softened water and that a softener may be needed first if the water is very hard. In the Hualapai Valley, where ADEQ found groundwater was generally hard to very hard, that's often the case.
Things to ask about
- The NSF/ANSI 58 certification and which contaminants it's certified to reduce
- How much water goes to drain for each gallon of treated water
- The filter and membrane change schedule
- Whether it can feed the refrigerator ice maker
- Space under the sink for the tank
On a private well?
Private wells aren't covered by the rules that apply to public water systems. Extension says it's the well owner's responsibility to test for arsenic and reduce it if needed, and it passes along Arizona Department of Health Services advice to test yearly for bacteria and nitrate and at least every three years for arsenic, lead and radon.
The water treatment company prices the job after it knows your water, your plumbing and, for repairs, what's wrong with the unit. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has tested your water or seen the install spot is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Does reverse osmosis remove arsenic?
It can. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says RO can remove up to 95 percent of arsenic, and recommends testing the treated water before relying on it and at least yearly after.
Do I still need a softener if I have RO?
RO only treats the water at one faucet. A softener protects the rest of the house from scale, and it can help the RO membrane last on very hard water.
Related services
More background: Kingman hard water guide.
White crust on the faucets, or a softener that quit working?
Call now and a local water treatment company will help you sort it out.